ClipArt ETC
An illustration of a boy drawing.

Boy Drawing

An illustration of a boy drawing.

An illustration of a young girl holding a pen.

Girl Holding Pen

An illustration of a young girl holding a pen.

Hand writing with pencil.

Hand

Hand writing with pencil.

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result is stiff, heavy, cramped penmanship, and rough marks.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result is stiff, heavy, cramped penmanship, and rough marks.

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The large finger should be straightened, and the end caused to drop lightly beneath the holder.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The large finger should be straightened, and the end caused to drop…

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result of dropping the hand too heavily upon the wrist and allowing it to roll to one side.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result of dropping the hand too heavily upon the wrist and allowing…

An incorrect way to hold a pen. Another position when the pen is held too tightly.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. Another position when the pen is held too tightly.

Illustration of Saint John the Evangelist sitting on a rock with a writing tablet in his lap. He is writing on the tablet. An eagle, often associated with John, is perched on the ground next to him. A tall staff with a cross at the top is leaning against a rock in the background.

Saint John the Evangelist Writing

Illustration of Saint John the Evangelist sitting on a rock with a writing tablet in his lap. He is…

The proper way to write a letter.

Letter Writing

The proper way to write a letter.

An illustration of a handwritten letter.

Handwritten Letter

An illustration of a handwritten letter.

A man sitting at a desk, with a boy standing in front, with his eyes closed.

Man at desk and boy

A man sitting at a desk, with a boy standing in front, with his eyes closed.

An illustration of a man signing a scroll.

Man Signing a Scroll

An illustration of a man signing a scroll.

An illustration of a man sitting at a desk and writing in a journal.

Man Sitting at Desk & Writing in Journal

An illustration of a man sitting at a desk and writing in a journal.

An illustration of a man writing notes in a journal.

Man Writing in Journal at Desk

An illustration of a man writing notes in a journal.

An illustration of a man writing a letter.

Man Writing Letter

An illustration of a man writing a letter.

An illustration of a man smoking a pipe and writing a letter while holding an infant.

Man Writing Letter with Child

An illustration of a man smoking a pipe and writing a letter while holding an infant.

"The Egyptian needles were of the following fashion. They wrote with a reed, or rush, many of which have been found, with the tablets and inkstands belonging to the writeres." — Goodrich, 1844

Egyptian Needle

"The Egyptian needles were of the following fashion. They wrote with a reed, or rush, many of which…

An instrument used for writing.

Pen

An instrument used for writing.

An illustration of two pencils, one long and one short.

Long & Short Pencils

An illustration of two pencils, one long and one short.

The proper way to hold a pen.

Penmanship

The proper way to hold a pen.

The proper way to hold a pen.

Penmanship

The proper way to hold a pen.

The first position to be taken, when placing the hand in correct position for writing.

Penmanship

The first position to be taken, when placing the hand in correct position for writing.

The hand elevated upon the two lower fingers, with the pen placed in correct position for writing.

Penmanship

The hand elevated upon the two lower fingers, with the pen placed in correct position for writing.

Another view of the correct position to hold a pen.

Penmanship

Another view of the correct position to hold a pen.

The correct position when the pen is at the bottom of an extended letter below the line, the pen being, as shown, nearly perpendicular.

Penmanship

The correct position when the pen is at the bottom of an extended letter below the line, the pen being,…

The front view of the hand showing the position of the forefinger, which should rest squarely on the top of the holder.

Penmanship

The front view of the hand showing the position of the forefinger, which should rest squarely on the…

"It (pen) should be held easily, in the position as illustrated, the strokes drawn with a steady, even motion and a slight uniform pressure on the paper, not enough to spread the nibs of the pen." —French, 1911

Side View of Position for Lettering Using Pen

"It (pen) should be held easily, in the position as illustrated, the strokes drawn with a steady, even…

"For the first practice draw in pencil top and bottom guide lines for 3/16" letters and with a 516 F or similar pen make directly in ink a series of vertical lines, drawing the pen down with a finger movement. This one stroke must be practised until the beginner can get lines vertical and of equal weight." —French, 1911

Top View of Position for Lettering Using Pen

"For the first practice draw in pencil top and bottom guide lines for 3/16" letters and with a 516 F…

"These strokes are the elements of which the single stroke letters are composed." —French, 1911

Pen Practice Strokes

"These strokes are the elements of which the single stroke letters are composed." —French, 1911

One of the most celebrated and most influential writers of the 18th century, was the son of a watchmaker at Geneva. (1712-1778)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

One of the most celebrated and most influential writers of the 18th century, was the son of a watchmaker…

A scrivener (or scribe) was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated secretarial and administrative duties such as dictation and keeping business, judicial, and history records for kings, nobles, temples, and cities. Scriveners later developed into public servants, accountants, lawyers and petition writers, etc. Scriveners remain a common sight in countries where literacy rates remain low; they read letters for illiterate customers, as well as write letters or fill out forms for a fee. Many now use portable typewriters to prepare letters for their clients.

Scribe

A scrivener (or scribe) was traditionally a person who could read and write. This usually indicated…

A boy studying at a desk.

Studying

A boy studying at a desk.

Tablets used by children for writing exercises.

Writing Exercise Tablets

Tablets used by children for writing exercises.

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. For much of the 20th century, typewriters were indispensable tools for many professional writers and in business offices. By the end of the 1980s, word processor applications on personal computers had largely replaced the tasks previously accomplished with typewriters. Typewriters, however, remain popular in the developing world and among some niche markets, and for some office tasks.

Typewriter

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause…

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. For much of the 20th century, typewriters were indispensable tools for many professional writers and in business offices. By the end of the 1980s, word processor applications on personal computers had largely replaced the tasks previously accomplished with typewriters. Typewriters, however, remain popular in the developing world and among some niche markets, and for some office tasks.

Open Typewriter

A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with a set of "keys" that, when pressed, cause…

An illustration of a woman writing a letter.

Woman Writing Letter

An illustration of a woman writing a letter.

An illustration of a woman writing a letter while a soldier is laying on a bed.

Woman Writing Letter & Man on Bed

An illustration of a woman writing a letter while a soldier is laying on a bed.

A writer trying to find inspiration.

Writer

A writer trying to find inspiration.